Review of Winter PFD XPS Deluxe Fishing Life Vest

Sometimes just finding that one piece of winter gear you need to round out everything else you own is tricky especially if you’re talking about a PFD, most are designed to keep you cool and not warm and warmth is what’s needed. There are so many PFD’s out there to pick from and with temps dropping into the 20s and going lower you really shouldn’t wear a inflatable PFD which is my go to pfd. In cold weather they don’t inflate as much not giving you the floatation you may need.

4.5 inches thick old PFD front and back together

The biggest gripe I always have is how bulky a traditional PFD is and once you layer up for cold conditions they make it even worst not to mention you really almost need a separate winter PFD just to have one to fit on over all your layers. I hate it when your trying as hard as you can to target a small group of fish and your rod butt hits you PFD when working the bait or worst yet when you’re setting the hook a slob of a fish and the rod butt catches on your PFD only to feel the fish come off.

Only 2inches thick the front and back together

I went to Bass Pro to pick up a cheap vest for the winter the cheap ones were bulky in the front and back, but the price was right $49.98, I’m only using it at most 3 months of the year . They were having BPS Santaland being it’s right before the holidays which was where all the PFDs were. When I found where they had put them all the PFDs were smashed on top of each other, which was magic, just one of the XPS Deluxe Fishing vests were mixed in and when I saw it, I just had to check it out.

Fleece collar help keeps you warm

XPS Deluxe Fishing vest is different then most PFDs, most PFDs have all the foam floatation located in the front and back where on the XPS Deluxe Fishing vest its distributed all the way around the vest adding a layer of warmth and greatly reducing the bulk on the front and back. Not only is it less bulky and warmer this vest comes in sizes up to 4xl. With fleece lined pockets to warm your hands up when they get cold from fishing and it doesn’t stop there it has a fleece collar as well. Is this thing made for me or what.

My one disappointment with this vest there’s no place to put my knife, I always like to have one handy, you never know when that catfishing line is going to cause problems.

The XPS deluxe fishing vest make a great winter kayak fishing vest its slim, warm and the fleece lined pockets really dial this vest into keeping you warm. Coming in at only $69.98 what a great value on a piece of critical importance in the winter.